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  The Selenium in Fish Protects You from Mercury!!

  The question is whether to eat fish, or not.

  A portion of the mercury in the environment becomes methylmercury which can have negative effects on the nervous system. Methylmercury is most often introduced into humans through the consumption of fish. Because of these concerns, fish advisories are widespread.

  However, fish provides many essential nutrients and minerals, including dietary selenium. Studies at the Energy & Environmental Research Center (EERC) Center for Air Toxic Metals® (CATM®) are investigating the critical issue of interactions between dietary selenium and mercury. It appears from these studies that the critical issue is having sufficient levels of selenium in the diet.  Selenium binds tightly with the mercury making it inert.

  Results seem to show that mercury's effects are not apparent when adequate or rich sources of selenium are consumed at the same time.  Note that eating whale meat, a custom of the Faroe Islanders, resulted in mercury poisoning.  Whale meat is very high in mercury, and deficient in selenium.

  While these studies are ongoing, their results help to explain mercury's toxic effects and lead to the conclusion that consumption of ocean fish may not pose as great a risk as once thought, and indeed may be an essential source of selenium for protection from other sources of mercury in the diet.  Moreover, avoidance of fish can deprive the body of the beneficial effects of many important nutrients, including selenium and omega-3 fatty acids.  

  For more information, see http://www.undeerc.org/catm/newsletters.html (Volume 12 Issues #2)
  On Under pressure from Big Canned Tuna, FDA lax in mercury regulation posted 1 year, 2 months ago 3 Responses